Does Workers’ Comp Cover Work-From-Home Injuries?

A home address alone does not decide whether an injury arose from work. OSHA’s telework interpretation distinguishes an injury occurring while the employee performs paid work and directly related to that work from one caused by the general home setting. Its example treats a work-task injury differently from an injury during a personal interruption. Workers’ compensation benefit decisions, however, are governed by state law, not OSHA recordkeeping guidance.

Record the task, time, location, and circumstances promptly. Check state notice deadlines and follow the insurer’s claim-reporting process. Employers with remote staff should also confirm the applicable work state and address are disclosed on the policy. A written telework arrangement and a clear description of the employee’s assigned workspace can help explain the facts, but neither automatically makes a claim compensable.